EU Renewables Hit 47.5%, Nearly Triple Since 2004

Europe just passed a turning point that seemed impossible 20 years ago: renewable energy now supplies nearly half of all electricity used across the continent.

The European Union reached 47.5% renewable electricity in 2024, up from just 15.9% in 2004 when tracking began. That's almost triple the share in two decades, proving that massive energy transformation is possible when nations commit to change.

Wind and water power led the charge, providing almost two-thirds of renewable electricity together. Wind alone generated 38% of the EU's clean power, while hydropower contributed 26.4%.

Solar energy stole the spotlight as the fastest-growing source. It jumped from a tiny 1% of renewable electricity in 2008 to 23.4% in 2024, a stunning 41-fold increase in raw energy production.

Austria, Sweden, and Denmark set the pace with renewables powering over three-quarters of their electricity. Austria topped the charts at 90.1%, followed closely by Sweden at 88.1% and Denmark at 79.7%.

Even major industrial economies crossed the halfway mark. Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands all got more than half their electricity from renewable sources, showing that clean energy works at scale.

The transformation happened through steady annual progress, averaging about 1.6 percentage points per year. Portugal reached 65.8% renewable electricity, while Finland hit 54.3%, proving different climates and geographies can all find their clean energy solutions.

The Ripple Effect

This shift means cleaner air for millions of European families and billions of tons of carbon dioxide kept out of the atmosphere. Every percentage point represents power plants that don't burn coal, natural gas that stays in the ground, and communities breathing easier.

The renewable boom also sparked an economic revolution, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs in solar installation, wind turbine manufacturing, and grid modernization. Countries that once imported fossil fuels now build their own energy future at home.

Progress continues accelerating as solar costs keep dropping and wind technology improves. The gap between renewable and fossil fuel electricity narrows each year, with clean energy on track to become the dominant power source across Europe within the next few years.

Even nations starting from lower baselines are moving forward, with every EU country increasing its renewable share over the past decade. The momentum suggests Europe's clean energy transition has reached the point of no return.

Two decades of data prove that transforming an entire continent's power system isn't just possible, it's already happening.